Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) (Persian: دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شیراز Dāneshgāh-e Olum Pezeshki-e Shirāz) is a public medical school located in Shiraz, Iran. Since its inauguration in 1946, SUMS has always been ranked among top medical schools in Iran.
Currently, more than 10,000 students are studying in over 200 different disciplines within 17 schools. Iranian students are recruited to SUMS through National Entrance Exam (concours) and registered to the main campus of the university. SUMS also offers international degree and non-degree programs to international students at different levels and disciplines, including Doctor of Medicine (M.D.),Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., Specialty, Subspecialty, Fellowship, and numerous Medical Elective and short-term training programs.
SUMS, in addition, is known as the major hub for the following scientific areas in the region:
- Liver Transplantation (major hub in the Middle East)
- Clinical Immunology (major hub in Iran)
- Clinical Microbiology (major hub in Iran)
- Advanced Electronic Education (major hub in Iran)
SUMS specializes in the following medical procedures:
- Organ Transplantation (liver, heart, kidney, et cetera)
- Cochlear Implant
- Interventional Radiology
- Minimally Invasive Surgeries (laparoscopy)
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Surgical and Interventional Cardiology Procedures
- Ophthalmic Surgical Procedures
- Interventional Urology
- Interventional Oncology
- Interventional and Surgical Orthopedics
- Interventional Thoracic Surgery
- Interventional Infertility Treatment
- Coronary Angiography
- Hepatic Angiography
- Cancer Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy
- Orthopedic Surgeries Fetal Surgery
- IVF and Infertility Treatment
- Spine Surgery Neurosurgery Procedures
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- Advanced Electronic Learning
- Clinical Immunology
- Clinical Microbiology
Moreover, SUMS is in charge of healthcare provision in public facilities, and supervising private healthcare providers throughout its appointed regions in Fars province.[a] SUMS has 45 public hospitals (including 14 teaching hospitals), 2 community health centers in Shiraz,[b], and 28 health networks throughout Fars province.[c] The University also supervises 17 private hospitals (including 3 charity hospitals) in Shiraz.
History
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) was founded in 1946 when Shiraz Institute of Higher Health Education (also known as Amouzeshgah-e Alee Behdariye Shiraz) started educating medical experts. In 1949, the facility developed into a medical school which was later governed by Shiraz University-formerly known as Pahlavi University- in 1954.Seven other schools, including the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Dentistry, the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, the School of Health, the School of Paramedical Sciences, the School of Pharmacy, and the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, were also established in Shiraz within a brief period to train students in various fields allied to medicine. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty, drastic changes were implemented at all universities. The name of Pahlavi University was immediately changed to Shiraz University.
Following the establishment of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, all departments and schools in the medical sciences began operating under the supervision of the newly established ministry. Therefore, these schools changed into new entities and formed independent medical universities in each province. Consequently, the School of Medicine and the other abovementioned schools at Shiraz University created Fars University of Medical Sciences in 1994. In that time, Fars University of Medical Sciences was the only medical school in Fars province and was in charge of providing medical education and healthcare services in public facilities, as well as supervising private healthcare providers throughout Fars province; therefore, following the establishment of other medical schools[d] in this province, Fars University of Medical Sciences was renamed Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), which is still operating under this name.
Statistics
As of May 2023[update], SUMS is home to over 900 faculty members and more than 35,000 personnel, who are working at SUMS in different areas, including health, treatment, research, and education. Currently, Over 10,000 students study in a variety of academic disciplines at SUMS teaching facilities and research centers.
The university claims a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The faculty is 56% male and 44% female while the student body is 45% male and 55% female.
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) is not only responsible for training students in medical fields but also manages all public hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers throughout its appointed counties in Fars province. The private sector of the health system in these regions also operates under direct and indirect surveillance of SUMS. In total, SUMS comprises: 17 schools, 55 active research centers, 6 research incubators, 45 public hospitals (including 14 teaching hospitals), 2 community health centers in Shiraz, and 28 health networks throughout Fars province. 17 private hospitals (including 3 charity hospitals) in Shiraz are also providing services under the supervision of SUMS.
